Time to look around and prepare your property to reduce fire risk. Whether you are on a rural or urban property, risks exist and sometimes it’s the small things that can cause the biggest flame.
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- Roof Materials, if you are in a higher-risk area, consider the type of roof material on your home, outbuildings, and garage.
- Gutter type and roof cleanliness – Every inside corner of the roof is a place where debris and embers can collect. Check regularly to clean combustible debris like tree needles and leaves from the roof and gutters
- Vents and openings – pose a hazard. Unscreened vents can allow embers to enter a building. With the exception of dryer vents, install non-combustible vents with 3 mm metal screening to limit embers from accessing the home. Always ensure the dryer vents are clean and operational
- Eaves – open eaves are vulnerable to embers and radiant heat
- Building exterior or siding – be aware of the type of material being used
- Building exterior condition examine the siding of your building(s) for any locations where embers could accumulate or lodge. Fill any holes or gaps, ensuring they are flush to the building to prevent embers from igniting the structure.
- Ground to Siding Clearance – create a non-combustible vertical ground-to-siding clearance can be achieved by exposing additional foundation walls.
- Window Glass – Single-pane glass windows are extremely vulnerable to breakage from radiant heat exposures
- Deck and Porch – consider enclosing the underside or a deck or porch with non-combustible sheathing and ensure a non-combustible surface extends underneath these features
- Woodpiles and other combustible materials – remove the accumulation of combustible debris like needles, leaves, and branches. Ensure woodpiles, building materials, patio furniture, tires, vehicles, recreational equipment, etc. are moved into the extended zone
- Forest Vegetation (trees) ensure that no tree branches are extending into the immediate zone
- Surface vegetation (shrubs, grass, and debris), ensure a non-combustible surface is extended around the structure and any attachments such as decks. Flammable materials and vegetation such as grass or plants should not be present in this zone
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- Woodpiles and other combustible materials (e.g. stored vehicles) Ensure that all combustible materials, like woodpiles, building materials, patio furniture, tires, recreation equipment, vehicles, etc., are moved into the Extended Zone, or a FireSmartTM-mitigated building
- Outbuildings, sheds, and garages - Mitigate outbuildings, sheds, and garages to the same standard as the home or move them beyond 10m of other important structures so the chances of fire spreading to adjacent structures are significantly reduced
- Forest Vegetation
- A surface fire can climb trees quickly. Removing all coniferous branches within 2 metres from the ground will help stop surface fires from moving into the treetops.
- Spacing coniferous trees at least 3 metres apart from crown-to-crown will reduce the risk of tree-to-tree fire transmission
- Surface vegetation and combustible materials
- Mowing and maintaining the lawn to a height of 10 cm or less will limit fire intensity and/or spread.
- Regularly remove accumulations of combustible debris like needles, leaves, and branches
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Forest vegetation
- Spacing coniferous trees at least 3 metres apart from crown-to-crown will reduce the risk of tree-to-tree fire transmission.
- Removing all coniferous branches within 2 metres from the ground will help prevent surface fires from moving into the treetops
- Surface vegetation -Cleaning up accumulations of fallen branches, dry grass, and needles will reduce potential surface fuel